Interactive whiteboards

"There are now several studies revealing contradictory conclusions about the effect of the use of IWBs is effective on student learning. A compilation of this research is available."

====Key Findings====

"The principal finding of this large-scale study was that, “[w]hen teachers have used an interactive whiteboard for a considerable period of time (by the autumn of 2006 for at least two years) its use becomes embedded in their pedagogy as a mediating artefact for their interactions with their pupils, and pupils’ interactions with one another." The authors of the study argued that "mediating interactivity" is a sound concept, offering "a ... theoretical explanation for the way in which the multi-level modelling (MLM) analyses link the length of time pupils have been taught with interactive whiteboards to greater progress in national test scores year on year."''

The research showed that interactive whiteboard technology led to consistent gains across all key stages and subjects with increasingly significant impact on the second cohorts, indicating that embedding of the technology into the classroom and teacher experience with the technology are key factors."

Promethean’s boards and the SMART boards produced by SMART Technologies, based in Calgary, Alberta, have become part of the nomenclature for the devices in schools, although products such as eBeam, Hitachi Starboard, PolyVision, and others have also gained a following because of their features or price points.

In Marzano’s study, the Promethean boards were most effective when they gave students multiple opportunities to use the boards and the interactive features. Nearly one-fourth of the teachers, though, were more effective without the whiteboards.

That finding highlights one of Marzano’s key conclusions from the study. The teachers who were most effective using the whiteboards displayed many of the characteristics of good teaching in general: They paced the lesson appropriately and built on what students already knew; they used multiple media, such as text, pictures, and graphics, for delivering information; they gave students opportunities to participate; and they focused mainly on the content, not the technology.

“These are things good teachers would do without technology,” Marzano says. “Technically, you don’t need to use the technology, but it’s just so hard to do all these things without it.”

The technology, he says, is a tool for making it easier to incorporate the elements of good teaching across content areas and among students with a range of academic knowledge and skills.

“I’ve lost my unbiased stance when it comes to technology,” says Marzano, who was a teacher before becoming a well-known expert on content standards, curriculum, and instruction. “The whiteboard can be a powerful tool. If I had been a teacher in a classroom where I had access to those tools, I could have been a better teacher.”

\"A statistical analysis of 30 schools using IWBs, composed of 9,000 students, found no increase in achievement in three core subject areas during the 2004/2005 school year (Moss et al., 2007). As these researchers say, "The main emphasis needs to rest with the appropriateness of the pedagogy, not the use of the technology per se" (p. 6). In all, school districts cannot expect transformational teaching and learning based on the simple addition of IWBs to a classroom."

Interacive whole class lessons

Better engagement of students

Meet the needs of visual learners

Expensive

"Glorified chalkboard"

Use as a Projector only

Hardware and software problems, complexity

Increased student engagement at first, then a drop off

There are a number of interactive whiteboards (from four different manufacturers) in classrooms across the district.

MimioTeach is the interactive whiteboard system that can be used with any existing physical whiteboard. It is part of MimioClassroom which also includes MimioVote (assessement system), MimioCapture (capture system), MimioView (document camera), MimioPad (wireless tablet), and MimioStudio software.

MimioConnect is an interactive teaching community that includes Lesson Plans/Activities, Member Profiles, Forums, Groups, and other resources for teacher

Combining the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer, the SMART Board interactive whiteboard lets you deliver dynamic lessons, write notes in digital ink, and save your work – all with the simple touch of a finger.

Explore the SMART Exchange website at exchange.smarttech.com to find, preview and download over 50,000 classroom-ready resources that can be used with a variety of classroom technology products. By joining this online community, you can quickly access subject-specific, standards-correlated content that can be modified to suit the needs of any classroom. You’ll also be able to connect with colleagues locally or around the world to exchange lessons, ideas, insights and classroom success stories.

PolyVision's eno classic is the first and only environmentally certified interactive whiteboard to combine the simplicity and ease of a traditional markerboard with high-performance interactivity—without cords, cables or costly installation.

PolyVision boards use RM Easiteach software. RM Easilearn is an online space that provides product resources for teachers and students who use our curriculum software titles. Visit to download resources, get the latest product updates, share ideas with other users.

PolyVision's Bring Learning to Lifespace is a place for all PolyVision educators to stay connected, learn from one another, and gain first hand experience with powerful interactive, instructional technology tools.

Epson BrightLink projectors increase the value and utilization of your multimedia devices. Use built-in annotation tools, or connect via a wired or wireless LAN to unlock powerful new features. Annotate on content sent over the network, from an iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, DVD/Blu-ray player or document camera. You can even annotate without any device at all; use the built-in tools PC-free. Teachers are free to connect existing resources already in their environment, while inviting students up to engage directly with the conten

Epson BrightLinks also use RM Easiteach software. RM Easilearn is an online space that provides product resources for teachers and students who use our curriculum software titles. Visit to download resources, get the latest product updates, share ideas with other users.